I couldn't answer because currently they have overflowed and there is pretty much zero organization. But when they fit on my bookcase, my organizational system was none of these. It was by cover color. And it looked super cool.

I now work for a bookstore chain here in Canada and I find myself organizing my books at home the same way as work. Subject first, then alphabetical by Author's last name.

So each section/subject has it's own shelf or 2. Travel it seems, has 2 shelves now. Everything has just one. Hmmmm there might be a message there.

Before I moved and had to re-box everything again, I was organizing them by LOC (Library of Congress) number. But I voted for Dewey anyway, since that's the closest option.

Honestly, unless you have more than several hundred books on multiple bookshelves, any system, or even no system would work just fine, ha. And that's coming from a library school nerd.

Still, before I went LOC because I was bored one day, I had books sorted alphabetically by author, and then chronologically by when they were published (or when they were written, in the case of fiction authors who often have to "make it big" before their earlier works can be published.)

Alas, desiring to do some vagabonding and considering how often I move, I should reduce my collection. Pretty much since college the majority of what I'm dragging around with me from place to place is books. Time to start my Kindle library.

I TOTALLY want a secret passageway. How much our kids love us, if we revealed it to them when they turn like 10 or something??

Time to start my Kindle library.

Heck no. That is *high* blasphemy.

Holding a book in one's hand will always be far superior to the Kindle. Until Kindle allows one to fold down the corners on pages with something of note, allows the reader to jot down something in pencil in the margin or can replicate that crack of a new binding, I just can't see using one. With a book, I am a reader. With a Kindle, I am a user.

Besides, some evenings I fall asleep while reading and my book takes a tumble. Kindle could never survive that.

Plus, that would make for one lame book case and would negate the whole reason for a secret passageway.

I'll keep straining my back in every move to lug my books around, so much do I love them.

I guess I will never be a minimalist. Sigh.

This LOC system intrigues me though... *that* is a curious suggestion.

There is only one way for you to store your books.

In a submarine with, "Tall, black-rosewood bookcases, inlaid with copperwork, held on their wide shelves a large number of uniformly bound books. These furnishings followed the contours of the room, their lower parts leading to huge couches upholstered in maroon leather and curved for maximum comfort. Light, movable reading stands, which could be pushed away or pulled near as desired, allowed books to be positioned on them for easy study. In the center stood a huge table covered with pamphlets, among which some newspapers, long out of date, were visible. Electric light flooded this whole harmonious totality, falling from four frosted half globes set in the scrollwork of the ceiling."

and

"all these books are shelved indiscriminately without regard to the language in which they were written, and this jumble proved that she could read fluently whatever volumes she chanced to pick up."

Just make sure you secret passageway doesn't let water in

Oh, how I do love to read while 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea!


Well done, Minerguy, well done!